water
2011 West Bench water billing
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Wed, 02/15/2012 - 06:27I have received some questions about 2011 water bills from the RDOS.
Background: Recall that the RDOS took over the West Bench water system in 2011 from the West Bench Irrigation District (WBID), a completely separate form of government. The WBID had bylaws regarding billing that had evolved over the years. Proir to disbanding, the WBID passed a budget for 2011 including a fee structure consistent with its bylaws. The RDOS inherited the bylaws and the 2011 budget.
February 2012 Faulder water update
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Thu, 02/09/2012 - 13:06|
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The location of the Okanagan prison has been announced so we no longer have to factor the possibility of a prison along the road to Faulder into our deliberations. It is true that a Princeton-Summerland Road prison was always a long-shot, mostly due to a lack of infrastructure and a lack of serious lobbying. The site selected by the province, the Osoyoos Indian Band industrial park north of Oliver, is already serviced with water and sewer. And, given a lack of industrial tenants clamoring for space there, a prison is a good way to recoup these servicing investments. |
Which brings us to the Faulder water issue. Just to recap:
November 21, 2011 presentation to Penticton City Council
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Mon, 11/21/2011 - 09:32| Update 23 Jan 2012: A presentation very similar to the one below was made to an in-camera session of Penticton City Council on Monday, 23 January, 2012. We are now waiting for the City of Penticton to decide whether to offer treatment services to the West Bench. The RDOS was not privy to Council's discussion. Please stand by for news. | |
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We (RDOS staff and I) were supposed to meet with Penticton City Council today to discuss our counter-proposal for the sale of filtered water to the West Bench. Alas, there has been some turnover as a result of the election on Saturday. Two incoming councilors (Helena Konanz and Wes Hopkin) will not attend tonight's meeting (at least not in any formal capacity) so it seems like a waste of time to make the presentation now. We have asked to be added to the agenda of the city's first "working" meeting (once orientation and all the activities of any new council are completed). I have attached the slides I had planned to present here so you can get some sense of what I am saying on your behalf (please keep in mind that the presentation is "animated" so it may not make sense in this static form--you will have to trust that it is "way better" when presented live...). Incidentally, Penticton prefers to have this meeting in camera (closed to the public). But all the material in my presentation has already been made public on this site and elsewhere. Now would be a good time comment on this process or make suggestions since it appears we will not make our presentation to Penticton City Council until early 2012.
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West Bench water boils down to dollars and cents
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Thu, 11/10/2011 - 14:54By JOHN MOORHOUSE, Penticton Herald, Tuesday, November 8, 2011 (link to article)
A proposal to link the West Bench with the City of Penticton water system could boil down to a matter of dollars and cents, says the regional district director for Area F.
Michael Brydon said there are two main options for upgrading the aging West Bench water system.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen could either build a separate ultraviolet treatment plant on the West Bench or buy "bulk" water from Penticton‘s filtered water system.
"That‘s really the decision that we‘re looking at," he said. "Do we process the water ourselves, or do we let the City of Penticton process it?"
However, Brydon said the two sides are far apart on the final tab. The RDOS option would cost $3.5 million plus almost $8 million in operating expenses over a 50-year period. The city proposal would involve $1.9 million in capital costs plus some $16 million in operating expenses over 50 years.
Provisional plan for dealing with the West Bench boil water advisory
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Mon, 10/24/2011 - 15:54As discussed in a previous update, problems with the West Bench intake and pumping system have resulted in a boil water notice for the West Bench water system. Many of these problems have existed for years. However, the view has always been (and still is, according to our recent survey) that residents would prefer not to spend money on upgrading this infrastructure if it will be abandoned soon anyways.
Results of the October 2011 survey regarding the West Bench boil water notice
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Mon, 10/24/2011 - 15:22I have posted the raw numerical results for the West Bench boil water survey here. The most important outcome is the response to the question:
Do you think the RDOS should proceed with the current boil water order? Please keep in mind that all costs of a service in a regional district in British Columbia are ultimately billed back to beneficiaries of the service.
A slight majority of residents are opposed to spending the necessary money to lift the boil water advisory, as summarized in the graphic below:
I have outlined the RDOS's response to the survey and the boil water problems in the next posting.
September 2011 West Bench water update
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 17:56|
Update 17 Oct 2011: We continue our negotiations with the City of Penticton regarding their bid for providing the West Bench with water. We hope to make a presentation to Penticton City Council at their first meeting in early November to nail down a final bid price and a few general principles. We will then compare Penticton's bid to our other alternatives and bring a recommendation forward to voters in a referendum. Also, we have sent out invitations to a short web-based survey about the ongoing boil water advisory. If you live on the West Bench and did not receive an invitation to participate, you can add yourself to our West Bench water survey mailing list (opens in a new window). The boil water issue boils down (ha ha) to whether you want to pay for temporary upgrades or would prefer to wait it out until the major upgrade is complete. See the staff memo on the boil water issue here (opens in a new window). |
Just a quick update regarding West Bench water:
We are running a bit behind schedule due in large part to the general slowdown in August. We have been trying to arrange a comprehensive meeting with City of Penticton and RDOS staff since August but this meeting will not happen until October 7th (that is the first date that is acceptable to all the key people!). Also, many people were busy in August so the residents' survey results took a while to trickle in.
Update regarding 2011 boil water advisory
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Thu, 08/04/2011 - 14:22I have had some questions about the continued boil water advisory on the West Bench given that the boil water for the Sage Mesa water system was lifted weeks ago. Here is what Doug French, Manager of RDOS Public Works, responded (paraphrased):
Materials from the July 28, 2011 West Bench presentation
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 08:33Thanks to those of you who could attend the Open House at West Bench School. Thanks as well to RDOS staff who did so much to pull the event together on a warm summer's evening.
Focus Engineering report: West Bench Supply options (2011 predesign)
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Sun, 07/24/2011 - 10:55I have requested an electronic copy of the predesign report for the West Bench supply options. I will post it here as soon as I get it. The report provides much more technical detail about the alternatives (e.g., pump horsepower, waterline routing, and so on).
